Juliet's monologue in Act 2, Scene 2 of Romeo and Juliet

"O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?"

Juliet's monologue in Act 2, Scene 2 of Romeo and Juliet, beginning with "O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?", is one of Shakespeare's most iconic passages. In this soliloquy, Juliet grapples with the conflict between her love for Romeo and the feud between their families. Below is a detailed analysis of this monologue, structured to provide comprehensive insights.

Synopsis

In the famous "balcony scene," Juliet, unaware that Romeo is nearby, expresses her anguish over loving someone from the rival Montague family. She muses on the insignificance of names and wishes that Romeo could renounce his family ties so they could be together without the burden of their families' enmity.

What’s Just Happened Before This Moment That’s Relevant to the Scene?

Earlier in the evening, Romeo and Juliet met at the Capulet's feast and instantly fell in love, despite learning of each other's family identities. After the party, Romeo sneaks into the Capulet orchard to catch another glimpse of Juliet. As he hides, he overhears Juliet speaking her thoughts aloud on her balcony, contemplating the dilemma of their forbidden love.

Original Text

O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?
Deny thy father and refuse thy name;
Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,
And I'll no longer be a Capulet.
'Tis but thy name that is my enemy;
Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
What's Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot,
Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!
What's in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet;
So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd,
Retain that dear perfection which he owes
Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name,
And for that name which is no part of thee
Take all myself.

Translation of Text into Contemporary Language

"Oh Romeo, Romeo! Why do you have to be Romeo?
Reject your father and abandon your family name;
Or, if you won't, just swear you love me,
And I'll stop being a Capulet.
It's only your name that's my enemy;
You'd still be yourself even if you weren't a Montague.
What's a Montague, anyway? It's not a hand, or a foot,
Or an arm, or a face, or any other part
Of a man. Oh, change your name!
What's in a name? A rose
Would smell just as sweet if it were called something else;
So Romeo would, even if he weren't called Romeo,
Keep all the perfection he has
Without that name. Romeo, shed your name,
And in exchange for that name, which isn't really part of you,
Take all of me."

Meaning of Difficult or Unusual Words

  • Wherefore: Why.

  • Deny: Disown or reject.

  • 'Tis but thy name that is my enemy: It's only your name that's my enemy.

  • Doff: Remove or discard.

Breakdown of Text into ‘New Thought’ Paragraphs

  1. O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?
    Deny thy father and refuse thy name;
    Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,
    And I'll no longer be a Capulet.

    • Juliet laments Romeo's identity as a Montague and wishes he could renounce his family name, or if he declares his love for her, she would abandon her own family ties.

  2. 'Tis but thy name that is my enemy;
    Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.

    • She reflects that it's only Romeo's name that's the problem; he would still be the same person even without it.

  3. What's Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot,
    Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
    Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!

    • Juliet muses that "Montague" is just a label and doesn't define Romeo's physical being.

  4. What's in a name? that which we call a rose
    By any other name would smell as sweet;
    So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd,
    Retain that dear perfection which he owes
    Without that title.

    • She argues that a name is meaningless; even if a rose were called something else, it would still smell sweet. Similarly, Romeo would still possess his qualities regardless of his name.

  5. Romeo, doff thy name,
    And for that name which is no part of thee
    Take all myself.

    • Juliet implores Romeo to discard his name, which isn't an intrinsic part of him, and in return, she offers herself completely to him.

Journey Keypoints: Hook, Turning Point, Climax, and Resolution

  • Hook: Juliet expresses her frustration over Romeo's identity as a Montague, the family her own is feuding with.

  • Turning Point: She contemplates the insignificance of names and how they don't alter the essence of a person.

  • Climax: Juliet passionately declares that if Romeo renounces his name, she would give herself entirely to him.

  • Resolution: This monologue sets the stage for Juliet's unwavering commitment to Romeo, foreshadowing the lengths they will go to be together despite their families' feud.

Famous or Notable Actors Who Have Played the Role

  • Olivia Hussey: Portrayed Juliet in Franco Zeffirelli's 1968 film adaptation, delivering a performance that captured Juliet's innocence and passion.

  • Claire Danes: Starred as Juliet in Baz Luhrmann's 1996 modernised film version, bringing a contemporary edge to the character.

  • Hailee Steinfeld: Played Juliet in the 2013 film adaptation, offering a fresh take on the classic role.

Conclusion

Juliet's monologue in Act 2, Scene 2, delves into the conflict between personal desire and social identity, highlighting the arbitrary nature of names and the profound depth of her love for Romeo. This speech is a testament to the timeless struggle between individual passion and societal constraints.